When most people think of Piedmont, their minds jump straight to Nebbiolo. They think of the regal tannins of Barolo and the perfumed elegance of Barbaresco. But just to the south, in the steep, high-altitude hills of Dogliani, another story is being told—a story of Dolcetto. And no one tells it with more passion, precision, and soul than Anna Maria Abbona.

The name of this place represents something exceptional: it means unity in an area where history, heritage, and prestige often define names. The Produttori del Barbaresco facility has existed since 1958, and it represents the living force of its entire community. A genuine co-operative emerged from necessity while sharing core principles, and it ended up becoming famous for creating top Nebbiolo wines from Piemonte.

There is a lot to say about this small producer. It is the definition of eclectic and out of the ordinary; the wines are usually hard to find, and, in fact, they are regularly kind of smuggled into the U.S. The winery doesn’t have a ordinary distribution network like the rest of the producers that you see on the shelves in the U.S. Rather, Flavio Roddolo avoids trends and stays isolated in his dedication to vine cultivation in his homeland of Monforte D’Alba. He farms, he ferments, he bottles—he does everything himself. The production is tiny, tiny—they are even hard to find if you ever go in the Langhe. No marketing, no consultants, no shortcuts. His approach involves time along with traditional methods—that is it.

Have you ever tried an Alpine Nebbiolo? Though you may associate Italy’s Piemonte region with Barolo and Barbaresco, it actually covers a large area expanding all the way to the Swiss border. Alto Piemonte is a wine region nestled along that border, in the most remote part of Piedmont. The most famous villages, just to name a few, are Boca, Lessona, Gattinara, Bramaterra, and Ghemme. You also find wine from the Coste delle Sesia Nebbiolo, a local “Langhe Nebbiolo”–style wine. Le Piane, located in Boca, is for me the best place to start discovering the beautiful Alto Piemonte. It is one of the most exciting wineries in this region, and I love the story behind it.